Historic Fort Douglas Walking Tour & Brief History

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CONTENTS
Location Map . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
A Brief History . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
A Shared Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Periods of Change . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The Walking Tour . . . . . . . . . . . 11
For More Information . . . . . . . . . . 27
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This walking tour was produced by Eric Browning, Historic
Preservation Research Assistant, under the direction of Anne
Racer, Director of Facilities Planning, University of Utah. It is
part of a creative mitigation effort developed by the State Historic
Preservation Office and the University of Utah in response to the
impact of the new construction on Historic Fort Douglas.
We wish to acknowledge and thank the following organizations
for providing information needed for this project: the Fort Douglas
Military Museum, the Graduate School of Architecture’s Western
Regional Architecture Program and its students, the Utah Heritage
Foundation, and the Utah State Historical Society.
2003
A BRIEF HISTORY
&
WALKING TOUR
HISTORIC FORT DOUGLAS
AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
Wesley Page, AIA — HENV Architects
Complimentary Copy
Designed, produced, and provided
by the University of Utah

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the California-Nevada Volunteers had all been discharged and
replaced by army regulars from the 18th Infantry.
Camp Douglas became increasingly important in the western
military establishment as a supply center for the fast-moving
cavalry during the 1870s. As a result, in 1878, Camp Douglas
became Fort Douglas. Toward the end of the century, the Indian
Wars ended, but conflict with Spain increased. In 1901, Fort
Douglas was upgraded to Regimental Headquarters where troops
were trained for service elsewhere.
During the two World Wars, the Post served as a mobilization and
training garrison, as well as a prisoner of war camp. In 1940, Fort
Douglas was comprised of three separate bases: the Fort, Salt
Lake Airbase, and Wendover Bombing and Gunnery Range. In
fact, the 7th Bomb Group, the unit that flew into Pearl Harbor the
morning it was bombed, had been training at and left from Fort
Douglas. During the Second World War, Fort Douglas served as
the headquarters for the Ninth Service Command and as a
reception and separation center. In the years since World War II,
Fort Douglas has served as headquarters for Reserve and National
Guard units and as a support detachment for military activities in
the area. The historic area of Fort Douglas was designated a
National Historic Landmark in 1970.
A tradition of granting and selling excess land and property to
others in the area has existed throughout the history of the Post.
At one time, the Post contained 10,525 acres; today the military
occupies 58 acres. In 1874, Congress set aside 50 acres of the
southwest corner of the Post as a public cemetery, which became
Mt. Olivet Cemetery. In 1909 an additional 60 acres of the Post
were added to the cemetery. Congress also granted 60 acres to the
University of Utah in 1894, an additional 32 acres in 1906, and
another 61.5 acres in 1932.
In 1945, 49 acres at the mouth of Emigration Canyon were
granted to the Utah Pioneer Trails and Landmarks Association. In
1946, the Shriners bought several acres of land at the north
Location Map courtesy of Fort Douglas Military Museum
A BRIEF HISTORY
In the midst of the Civil War, Colonel Patrick Edward Connor and
the California-Nevada Volunteers were ordered to the Utah
Territory for the purpose of guarding the Overland Mail Route;
they arrived in October of 1862. Concerned about secessionist
activities in the area, Colonel Connor chose a location that
allowed him to keep an eye on the Mormons. The Post was
originally called Camp Douglas, in honor of the recently deceased
Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas who had been an ally of the
West. The regiment established a garrison, gained military
supremacy over the indigenous cultures, and began successful
prospecting for mineral wealth in the surrounding mountains.
By the late 1860s, the mutual distrust between the Army and the
Mormons gave way to wary accommodation. The Mormons
remained loyal to the Union and the Army’s presence provided
Salt Lake City with a much-needed infusion of money. By 1866,

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boundary of the Post to build their hospital. In 1947, the motor
pool area located just west of the Annex Building was granted to
the National Guard. In 1948, 25 acres were transferred to the
Veterans Administration for the construction of the Veterans
Hospital on Foothill Boulevard. This same year, Salt Lake City
obtained the triangular portion that is located between the
University and the Veterans Hospital; the Bureau of Mines
received 10 acres; several acres between Mount Olivet Cemetery
and Guardsman Way were transferred to the Utah National Guard;
and the University of Utah acquired another 299 acres. In 1970,
the several thousand-acre Red Butte watershed was transferred to
the Forest Service, and the University of Utah was granted the
area now occupied by Research Park.
It was proposed that the Post be closed in the 1860s, just prior to
World War I; just after World War II; in 1967; in 1978; and again
in 1988. The Post survived all of these but the last.
Consequently, Federal Legislation was passed in 1991 transferring
approximately 51 acres, and any lands declared excess to the
needs of the Army in the future, to the University of Utah in
exchange for state lands. In 1998, approximately 12 more acres
were transferred to the University. The southern portion of Fort
Douglas, including the historic buildings on Soldiers Circle,
continues to be used as the headquarters of the 96th Army Reserve
Command and as a base of operation for U.S. Navy and Marine
Reserves.
Fort Douglas has played an important role in Utah’s economic,
political, and social history. Its contributions to national defense
have been equally distinctive. The Post and its buildings have
also contributed significantly to Utah’s architectural heritage and
have been an integral part of the University of Utah’s history.
For more information, please visit our website.
www.facilities.utah.edu/fd/
A SHARED VISION
A university experience is not just about calculus and chemistry.
Preservation isn’t just about bricks and mortar. Both are about
individuals and their communities ... about bridges stretching from
the past through the present to the future. Many people and
organizations have teamed up, with a shared vision, in order to
bring this historic landmark back to life.
It was with a shared vision that the Division of State
History, Office of Preservation and the University of Utah
Department of Facilities Planning joined together to plan
for the development of new student housing in the Fort
Douglas area. The Office of Preservation was interested in
seeing an integrated development of both old and new. We
quickly found that we shared the same vision with the
University of Utah.
The vision was that old and new would interact with
each other, that there would be interplay between old and
new. In great cities and heritage destinations, there is an
organic nature to development that surprises both resident
and visitor; and there is juxtaposition and play-off between
the past and present, each being strengthened. Through the
infusion of new, old is reinvigorated, and through the
inclusion of the old, the new is given broader character.
History becomes an enhancer. New construction becomes
the energizer.
This juxtaposition of old and new is complex and
organic. It creates opportunities for discovery, for around
the corner there may be a surprise. It creates opportunities
for complex patterns of development where vistas open and
close and lines of site may be blocked, but enhanced, by an
historic building. It creates an environment where the
visitor is enticed down new pathways and surprised by

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As president of the National Trust for Historic
Preservation, it is both my privilege and responsibility to
serve as an advocate for historic structures across the
nation. This project is committed to protecting the historic
integrity of Fort Douglas while providing a vital link to
future generations.
Upon completion, Fort Douglas will provide a campus
setting unlike any other in the country. Community
members will have a unique and personal opportunity to
enjoy this historic legacy, and athletes from around the
world will make historic Fort Douglas their home during
the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
Fort Douglas Heritage Commons promises to be a
most memorable and significant preservation project. I
urge you to support it.
Richard Moe, President
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Memories of Fort Douglas run deep in our hearts.
Kay’s family lived at the fort during her father’s military
service. Years later, we celebrated our wedding reception
at the Officer’s Club, and Kay’s younger sister was
married at the Post Chapel.
We’re not unique. Similar experiences for thousands
of Utahns and others have made Fort Douglas an integral
part of all of our lives. From the bandstand on Officers
Circle to the cannon standing guard at the top of Stilwell
Field, this 19th century village on the east bench of Salt
Lake City will once again thrive. Its historic significance
and future potential cannot be overstated.
Bringing this irreplaceable landmark “back to life” is
an exciting and worthwhile opportunity. As Fort Douglas
Heritage Commons becomes an integral part of campus life
for student-scholars and faculty at the University of Utah,
design. The opportunity for all of these possibilities existed
at Fort Douglas. And as a result of this shared vision, a
quality, entertaining, engaging, living and learning
environment has been created.
Wilson Martin
Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
The military has a long and distinguished history at
Fort Douglas. Members of our armed forces have been
stationed here for decades. Many of you were enlisted here
and received your orders on Stilwell Field.
The University is now engaged in an exciting campaign
to restore and rehabilitate the historic fort. I am pleased to
say that it is with a sense of cooperation and mutual
respect that discussions between the Army Reserve and the
University have proceeded. We have worked together to
address our respective needs, and we will continue to work
together to achieve our mutual goals.
As the current tenant and guardian of the military
legacy here, the Reserves applaud the efforts to protect the
historic integrity of Fort Douglas. I enthusiastically ask
fellow service men and women, veterans, and their families
to support this significant project. We have a unique
opportunity to commemorate our involvement in the
history––and future––of Fort Douglas. Please join me in
preserving this special place for future generations.
J. Craig Larson
Major General, U.S. Army Reserve
It is my pleasure to support Fort Douglas Heritage
Commons––an effort that I consider one of the most
significant preservation projects in America.

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PERIODS OF CHANGE
Although the Post’s history is often viewed solely in terms of its
stone buildings, the architectural fabric of Fort Douglas is best
understood when viewed as an intricately woven tapestry of
building and rebuilding. Throughout history, new conditions and
demographic shifts in the Post’s population have brought new
buildings, the remodeling of some of the older ones, and the
demolition of others. Fort Douglas has recently embarked on yet
another great change, reminding us that change has been and will
continue to be a constant element in the Post’s history. From this
perspective, seven principal periods have been identified.
Establishment 1862–1869
Permanence 1869–1891
Professionalism 1891–1922
Prosperity 1922–1940
Mobilization 1940–1945
Contraction and Adaptation 1945–1991
University Student Housing and
the 2002 Olympic Village
Fort Douglas has been the home of many different people and
organizations over the years. The architectural fabric is a record
of most of these people and the time they have spent or will spend
here. From the California Volunteers to the professional Army,
from the laundresses to the prisoners of war, from horses to the
automobile, and from the many civilian organizations during the
Great Depression to University of Utah students, the buildings are
as varied as the people and functions they served.
The buildings and grounds at Fort Douglas represent decades of
change and adaptation, creating rich overlays of history available
for all to see.
Fort Douglas Heritage Commons is an Official Project of Save
America’s Treasures, a public-private partnership between the
White House Millennium Council and the National Trust for
Historic Preservation dedicated to the preservation of our nation’s
irreplaceable historic and cultural treasures for future generations.
The University of Utah is honored to have Fort Douglas Heritage
Commons included in this select group of historic treasures that
consists of some of the nation’s most revered places and objects.
For information on the University’s campaign for the renovation
and restoration of Fort Douglas’ historic buildings, contact the
University Development Office at (801) 581-6825.
those of us who generously support this project will have
made a real and lasting impact on our community and
state.
We hope you will join us in this important effort.
Allan M. Lipman, Jr.
Kay Winston Lipman
Campaign Co-chairs, Fort Douglas Heritage Commons
University of Utah

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Establishment 1862–1869
The first winter was spent in dugouts. Some were covered with
small buildings made of log and adobe, but most were covered
with canvas tents. The next spring, more substantial buildings
were constructed, but these too were modest in both design and
construction. The buildings were constructed using materials and
methods that reflected a sense of impermanence. This was a result
of the belief, during the 1860s, that the Army’s presence in the
Salt Lake Valley was temporary. The most common materials
used were adobe and hand-hewn logs. The only building that
remains from this time period is Building 655, which was the Post
Commander’s Quarters. Colonel Pollack was its first resident.
Speculative reconstruction of Camp Douglas, Utah, 1864
Drawing by Robyn Taylor-Power, Inking by Jody R. Stock
Permanence 1869–1891
Colonel John Gibbon, the first of many Post Commanders who
beautified and improved the Post, arrived in the summer of 1869
and initiated a system of watercourses that irrigated the gardens,
lawns, and shade trees. Between 1872 and 1876, most of the Post
was rebuilt due to the generally dilapidated condition of the 1860s
buildings. Nearly all of the Classical style buildings were
replaced by Gothic Revival style buildings constructed of local
sandstone from Red Butte Canyon. In the 1880s the Army began
concentrating its forces at the larger posts. As a result, another
building campaign took place between 1884 and 1886 that
produced housing and support buildings to accommodate the
additional personnel. The housing was once again done in the
Gothic Revival style, but this time built of wood.
Speculative reconstruction of Fort Douglas, Utah, 1891
Drawing by Jody R. Stock

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Professionalism 1891–1922
It is said that the “American Frontier” had ceased to exist by 1890.
In any case, the last of the Indian Wars ended in January of 1891
ending the need for rugged frontier soldiers. As a result, the Army
went through another reorganization that, among other things,
included better living conditions in an effort to attract better-
qualified men who would re-enlist and produce professional
soldiers of higher caliber. In 1897, the Post’s most serious health
problem was solved when its sewage system was connected to the
Salt Lake City system. Indoor plumbing was installed 1903,
electric lights in 1910, and steam heating and telephones in 1911.
This reorganization and the 1901 designation of Fort Douglas as
Regimental Headquarters resulted in the construction of many
new buildings in order to accommodate the Post’s population
growth. In addition to housing, various other buildings were
constructed. These included a Post Exchange and gymnasium,
bowling alley, guardhouse, bakery, and a number of warehouses.
Drawing by Russell Newbold, inking by Jody R. Stock
Prosperity 1922–1940
In June of 1922, when the celebrated 38th “Rock of the Marne”
Infantry Regiment arrived, Fort Douglas entered a period of
prosperity often called the Post’s “Golden Age.” In 1927, another
nationwide Army building program to upgrade living conditions
was initiated. Many buildings were remodeled, new quarters for
officers and regimental non-commissioned officers were built, and
the largest barracks on Solders Circle, Building 100, was
constructed. Several recreational facilities such as baseball fields,
golf course, Post Theater, swimming pool and bathhouse, and
landscaping features such as the sandstone retaining walls were
also built during this time period. During the Great Depression,
Fort Douglas provided Utah’s economy with more than one
million dollars each year, a portion of which came from New Deal
assistance programs.
Drawing by Jody R. Stock

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Another period of intense activity at Fort Douglas came shortly
after Germany invaded Poland in 1939. A Bombing and Gunnery
Range Detachment was established at Wendover, Utah as a sub-
post of Fort Douglas in August of 1940. After the attack on Pearl
Harbor, a Japanese coastal invasion was anticipated and the Ninth
Mobilization 1940 – 1945
Drawing by Mary Troutman, inking by Jody R. Stock
Service Command Center was moved inland to Fort Douglas from
the Presidio in San Francisco. Once again, a large number of
buildings were needed to house the new activities.
As part of the national mobilization effort, numerous wooden
buildings were quickly constructed specifically for wartime needs.
There was little variation between the standardized building plans
and, whether they were barracks or warehouses, these buildings all
had the same general appearance. They were wood frames with
simple gable roofs and without stylistic embellishments, covered
with wood siding, and placed on a concrete-slab foundation.
Although the majority of the functions only required a simple
rectangle, for those functions requiring a larger building, a “U” or
“E” shaped building was easily formed by simply combining
smaller buildings. The design of these buildings was guided by
five principles: speed of construction, simplicity, flexibility,
conservation of materials, and safety—the most important being
speed. The most quickly constructed building during World War I
was completed in three hours. The average during World War II
was one hour, with the record being 54 minutes.
Although the wooden buildings are often referred to as
“temporary” structures, these buildings were not “temporary” in
the sense of being shoddily built. The main reason that they were
labeled “temporary” was due to the general opinion that wars end,
and these wooden buildings were intended for wartime use. They
were built with the expectation that they would last only 5 to 20
years. However, they were over-designed because President
Roosevelt promised the mothers of servicemen that the troops
would get the basic comforts of the average American citizens at
that time. This is why the buildings were painted at the cost of
millions of dollars in spite of the concept that they were only
meant to last a few years.

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Contraction and Adaptation 1945–1991
After 1946, Fort Douglas served primarily as a support unit for the
United States Army Reserve. There was a dramatic decrease in
activity at Fort Douglas when World War II came to an end and
the Ninth Service Command Center returned to San Francisco.
Due to a variety of factors, it was determined that Fort Douglas
was too small to meet future needs. As a result, many functions
Fort Douglas, Utah, 1991
Drawing by Office of the Facilities Engineer
and personnel were moved to other posts, and several acres of
land and numerous buildings were either granted or sold to local
and federal agencies. The unused buildings, which the Army
retained, were leased to various military organizations such as the
Deseret Testing Center, ROTC Headquarters, the Utah Military
District, and the Utah National Guard to name just a few.
In 1945, 49 acres at the mouth of Emigration Canyon were
granted to the Utah Pioneer Trails and Landmarks Association.
In 1946, the Shriners bought several acres of land at the north
boundary of the Post to build their hospital. In 1947, the motor
pool area located just west of the Annex Building was granted to
the National Guard. In 1948, 25 acres were transferred to the
Veterans Administration for the construction of the Veterans
Hospital on Foothill Boulevard. The same year, Salt Lake City
obtained the triangular portion that is located between the
University and the hospital; the Bureau of Mines received 10
acres; several acres between Mount Olivet Cemetery and
Guardsman Way were transferred to the Utah National Guard;
and the University of Utah acquired another 299 acres.
In 1967, the Army decided to reduce the Post to 119 acres. In
1970, the several thousand-acre Red Butte watershed was
transferred to the Forest Service, and the University of Utah was
granted the area now occupied by Research Park. In 1970, Fort
Douglas became a sub-post of Fort Carson, Colorado. In 1978,
the Army once again proposed that the Post be closed. However,
it was decided, in 1981, that it would not be cost effective to
deactivate Fort Douglas due to the cost of renting space for
offices. The cost of maintaining the historic buildings became a
financial burden and, in 1988, Fort Douglas was once again
placed on closure status. Consequently, in 1991, it was decided
that the University of Utah would receive approximately 51 acres,
and any lands declared excess to the needs of the Army in the
future, in exchange for state lands.

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University Student Housing & Olympic Village
Through a University President appointed task force, it was
determined that the best “re-use” of Fort Douglas would be to
reintroduce its long-standing function as a residential village, and
that the best location for the University’s student housing would
be within the area of Fort Douglas. The philosophy guiding site
planning was to weave new construction into the historic fabric of
Fort Douglas thus expanding on the Fort’s existing
“neighborhoods” of residences surrounding community buildings
and open spaces.
The University’s “Living & Learning Community” at Historic Fort Douglas
Original Drawing by Design West / Hanbury Evans Newill Vlattas, 1999
Extensive studies of the Fort Douglas site were conducted during
programming and master site planning to develop design
guidelines for the new buildings so they would not compete with
the historic buildings. The University of Utah’s intent and
dedication was to have the new construction be another element of
Fort Douglas, being part of a whole that will continue to function
as the village it has always been.
During this planning process, Salt Lake City was selected as the
host city for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. As a result, a new
layer was added to the consideration of new student housing and
the long-range plan for the University of Utah. A secondary use
of Fort Douglas and the new student housing was to serve for a
short time as the Athlete’s Village for the 2002 Winter Olympic
Games. Approximately four thousand athletes, trainers, and
officials were housed from January 9 to March 4. The Sage Point
neighborhood continued to serve as the Paralympic Village from
March 4 to March 26.
There have been many questions about the future of the existing
historic buildings at Fort Douglas. The University is upgrading
and restoring all the historic buildings as funds become available.
For example, all of the 1950s wrought iron is being replaced with
historically appropriate wood elements. Many buildings, such as
the Officers Circle duplexes, have already received this treatment.
In addition to housing, the historic buildings will be used for
student support spaces that enhance the academic experience of all
university students with emphasis being placed on the programs
and needs associated with the students housed at Fort Douglas.
The University of Utah is pleased to have the assistance and
support of the State Division of History and their Office of
Historic Preservation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation,
the Utah Heritage Foundation, and other university and
community groups as it works to maintain and restore the historic
qualities and unique environment of Fort Douglas.

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tour does cover a large area. If you find long walks or hills
physically challenging, you may not want to do the entire tour all
at once. You could spread the tour out over subsequent visits, or
take a break at the Museum and enjoy lunch at the Heritage
Center.
In an effort to keep things simple and readable, neighborhood
numbers, streets names, and building numbers are provided on
separate maps. Also, because the tour is designed to be flexible,
information that relates to various buildings is repeated for each
building, or group of buildings. We hope you find the walking
tour both informative and enjoyable. We simply ask you to be
mindful of Fort Douglas as a residential community of university
students and in part, a military facility.
Chase Street
Fort Douglas Boulevard
Red Butte Canyon Road
Pedestrian Path and Bridge
Potter Street
Hempstead Road
Soldiers Circle
Stover Street
Dern Street
Peel Street Stevens Street
Pollock Road
Gibbon Street
Vollum Street
Lewis Street
Officers Circle
Connor Road
De Trobriand Street
THE WALKING TOUR
Because the tour covers a large area and can require a fair amount
of time and walking, it is designed to be flexible. One can either
walk around each neighborhood and get a close look at each
building, or simply look out over each neighborhood while
reading about the buildings. For example, one could stand in front
of the Museum and easily view all of the buildings surrounding
Stilwell Field, walk a short distance to Hempstead Road and easily
view all of the buildings on Soldiers Circle, etc.
Great care has been taken to organize the tour in a way that
minimizes long stretches of walking up hill. Nevertheless, the
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ceremonies. Many of the large trees surrounding the parade field
were planted in the 1860s. After World War II, the parade ground
was named after General Joseph Stilwell who was commander of
all U.S. forces in the China-Burma-India area during World War
II. He served as Chief of Staff to Chiang Kai-Shek, and was the
first American General to command a Chinese Army.
The current flagpole was erected in July of 1954 replacing a 1902
flagpole of similar size and design. The monument near the
flagpole commemorates the valiant conduct of the men of the 38th
Infantry Regiment during World War I. The regimental motto,
“Rock of the Marne,” came from the 38th’s heroic stand against
the Germans along the Marne River in 1918.
De Trobriand Street was named after Brevet Major General Philip
R. De Trobriand who, as a colonel, was the commanding officer
of Camp Douglas from 1870 to 1871.
Building 618: This two-story barracks, built in 1872–1873, is the
oldest surviving barracks at Fort Douglas. It was extensively
remodeled in 1912 when the barracks became housing for three
officers and their families. Hipped dormers replaced the front and
rear gables and three individual porches with Tuscan columns
replaced the full-facade front porch. The Tuscan columns were
replaced with wrought iron in the 1950s.
Building 619: This one-story barracks for 40 men was built in
1875. It was extensively remodeled in 1912 when the barracks
became housing for three officers and their families. The original
full-facade front porch was removed and replaced by a small
porch in the center with Tuscan columns. A similar porch was
located on each side as well. The Tuscan columns were replaced
with wrought iron in the 1950s.
Buildings 620: This one-story barracks for 40 men was built in
1875. It was remodeled in 1912 for use as an administrative
Potter Street was named after General Carroll H. Potter, the first
Regular Army officer to command Camp Douglas. He was the
commanding officer, as a colonel, from 1865 to 1866.
Buildings 631 & 632: Built as barracks in 1875, these two
buildings now serve as the Fort Douglas Military Museum. Prior
to being part of the Museum, Building 631 was used as the post
school, fire station, district headquarters for the Civil
Conservation Corps, and a mess hall. In the late 1940s, the Post
Office and Chaplain’s office were moved to this building. During
the 1920s and 1930s, Building 632 served as the Regimental
Headquarters for the 38th Infantry, and was the Post Office during
World War II. In the 1950’s, the Judge Advocate General’s office
was located here. After housing a variety of other offices,
Building 632 was officially opened as a military museum in 1975.
These buildings originally had a frame veranda, without railing,
that extended across the entire front and was supported on stone
piers. In 1939 the concrete deck and wood railing were added,
and the area beneath was enclose.
Stilwell Field: This is the original parade ground laid out by
Colonel Patrick Edward Connor in 1863. It was used for morning
roll call, morning and evening respects to the colors, work
assignments, training, games and recreation, parades, and
Neighborhood #1

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building. In 1929, it was extensively remodeled to serve as the
residence for the Commanding Officer, at which time, the
Colonial Revival details such as the cornice and projecting
pedimented porch were added to the building. The University
adapted this building for use as a conference center in 2001. The
existing large living/dining room became the main conference
room and interior walls separating the bedrooms and bathrooms
were removed to create three additional conference rooms.
Buildings 621–625: These buildings, similar to Building 603 in
Neighborhood #5, were built in 1931 as quarters for the senior
officers and their families as part of a nationwide Army building
program initiated in 1927 to upgrade the living conditions of
officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted men. The
building program was implemented in the 1930s using funds from
the Army, the Works Progress Administration, and the Public
Works Administration. Designed by the Quartermaster General’s
Office in Washington, D.C., the standard plans could be modified
depending on regional style. At Fort Douglas, the Colonial
Revival style was chosen.
Chase Street was named after Lieutenant Darwin Chase, a
tenacious leader who gave his life at the Battle of Bear River on
January 29, 1863. He continued to urge his men forward for 20
minutes after being shot in the lungs.
Building 28: This one-story stone building, built in 1884, was
constructed with stone salvaged from the 1872 bakery. It served
as the bakehouse until Building 644 in Neighborhood #3 was built
in 1909. After that, this building stood vacant until the mid 1920s
when it was converted to an office and radio station for the Signal
Corps. After the radio station was moved to another location in
1930, that portion of the building was used for storage. The
covered entrance on the east side and the basement, which later
became a garage, were added in the 1930s. This building has also
housed a veterinarian’s clinic, education office, and procurement
branch office for Dugway Proving Ground.
Hempstead Road was named after Captain Charles H. Hempstead
who was the Post Adjutant and the first editor of the Union
Vedette, the Post’s newspaper from November 20, 1863 to
November 27, 1867.
Building 101: This red sandstone building was built in 1886 as a
stable for ninety-six horses. In 1922, it was converted to a
storehouse, at which time the interior was changed, a concrete
floor added, roof trusses strengthened, decayed support timbers
replaced, and new shingles placed on the roof. The Civilian
Conservation Corps (a New Deal program that engaged in land
improvements, forestry, and fire fighting) acquired this building
Neighborhood #2

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for use as a district warehouse in 1933 and built the shed roof
addition along the entire length of the east side. The following
year, a similar addition was built along the entire length of the
west side. The Army has continued to use this building as a
warehouse.
Building 122: This small brick building was demolished in 2001.
It was built in 1945 for use as a general storehouse.
Building 123: This small concrete building was demolished in
2001. It was built in 1943 to serve as a diesel house. Prior to
demolition, it was used for general storage.
Building 100: This large two-story brick double-barracks was
constructed in 1939 to house 250 men of the 38th Infantry. Some
Neoclassical features are present such as the pilasters on the front
and the dormers. During World War II, this building was
converted to an administration building for the 9th Service
Command. Since World War II, it has housed an Army
Recruiting Center, headquarters for an Army Readiness Group,
and the Army Reserve. In 1988, this building was named the
“James C. Bungard Hall” after Chief Warrant Officer James C.
Bungard, food service supervisor for the 162nd Support Group,
who died in an automobile accident in 1985.
Buildings 102, 103, & 105–108: The 1901 designation of Fort
Douglas as Regimental Headquarters resulted in the construction
of many new buildings to accommodate the Post’s population
growth. Buildings 106–108 were built in 1904, Buildings 102,
103, & 105 in 1910. Each two-story brick double-barracks housed
two companies totaling about 176 men. Each building had a
dividing wall down the center with each half having a day room,
kitchen, mess hall, dormitories, and quarters for sergeants and
non-commissioned officers. In 1936, the wood steps and decks on
the first floor of the two-story covered verandas in the rear of the
buildings were replaced with concrete. In the late 1940s, the
building exteriors were painted red.
After World War II, all of these buildings were eventually
remodeled to serve as classrooms, administrative offices,
recruiting facilities, and medical facilities. Each of these buildings
originally had a two-story canopied veranda that covered the
entire front. The Neoclassical style was present in the Doric
columns that supported the veranda. Just prior to a 1982 survey of
the Post’s historic buildings, the verandas were replaced with two
small entrance porches that had an uncovered second floor
balcony. The balcony was later removed, roofs placed on the
porches, and the original entrances to the verandas were either
filled in or converted to windows. The Army removed the red
paint from these buildings in 2000.
Building 104: This two-story brick barracks was built in 1910 to
house a 33-man regimental band. This building has changed the
least of any of barracks on Soldiers Circle. Only a small wood
frame enclosure at the rear entrance has been added, and a small
rear window has been bricked up. By 1974, it was serving as the
Post Headquarters.
Building 35: This wood frame building was built in 1942 to serve
as a fire station. By 1982, it was being used as an ordnance
administration building. It is currently the only World War II era
frame building being used by the military. In 1945, about two-
thirds of the Post’s buildings were World War II era buildings, the
majority being of frame construction. Nearly all of the frame
buildings have been demolished.

15
Building 644: This one-story brick building was constructed in
1909 to serve as the Bakery. In 1971, it became a motor pool
maintenance shop and a large rear wing was added, which
contained six stalls with overhead doors. It was probably at this
time that the Neoclassical pedimented entrance portico was
removed. Sometime after 1982 an addition was added to the south
end of the original bakery portion. Both of the additions were
removed in 1999 in preparation for restoration of the building.
Peel Street was named after Lieutenant Fernando A. Peel,
regimental quartermaster, who gave his life in the Battle of
Spanish Fork Canyon on April 15, 1863.
Building 676: This one-and-one-half-story brick building was
constructed in 1905 to serve as the Guardhouse. The Guardhouse
was used as quarters for those soldiers on guard duty and as the
jail, holding up to 40 prisoners. The Neoclassical features of the
building are found on the front porch, which exhibits Doric
columns. The porch was originally supported by brick piers and
had steps on both ends. Sometime prior to 1938, a concrete
foundation was placed below the porch so that the area under it
was enclosed, and the end steps were removed. Prior to 1982, the
rear portion of the building, where the cells were located, was
converted to a maintenance shop and a large entrance with an
overhead door was placed in the south wall of that section.
Dern Street was named after Governor George H. Dern who was a
great friend of Fort Douglas and who later became Secretary of
War.
1904 to serve as the Post Exchange and a gymnasium; it served as
the PX until the 2002 Olympics. It has some Neoclassical
elements as seen in the squared columns on the front porch
entrance and the dentils under the eaves. Originally, there were
steps that led up to the front entrance from the side of the building
Building 109: This small brick building was completed on June
27, 1910 to serve as a transformer substation when electricity was
introduced to Fort Douglas, and it continues to serve that purpose.
A 1920s frame addition on the north end was replaced in the
1960s with a brick extension of about ten feet.
Building 110: This frame building was demolished c. 2001. It
had steel siding walls and was built in 1910 to serve as an
ordnance storehouse and office. The original wooden loading
dock was replaced by concrete about 1939.
Building 111: This wood frame building was demolished c. 2001.
It was built in 1943 to serve as a warehouse. By 1945, about
two-thirds of the Post’s buildings were World War II era buildings
most of which were of frame construction. Nearly all of the frame
buildings have been demolished.
Pollock Road was named after Colonel Robert Pollock who was
the commanding officer of Camp Douglas from 1863 to 1864.
Stevens Street was named after First Sergeant Anthony Stevens
who died of wounds received at the Battle of Bear River in
February 1863.
Neighborhood #3

16
where the stairs now go to the basement. This change probably
occurred in 1939 when the wood porch and steps were replaced
with concrete. The brick addition/entrance on the east of the
building was constructed circa 1970.
1910 to house a bowling alley. The roof on the main portion was
originally lower than the roofs of the wings, but sometime prior to
1940 it was raised to the same height. On the east side, a different
style brick covers an area in the center of the building indicating
that a large hole had been made and then filled in. This may have
been necessary in order to install laundry equipment when the
building was converted to a laundry in the 1970s. It later became
offices.
Stover Street was named after Captain David B. Stover, who was
post quartermaster from 1863 to 1866.
Building 636: This one-story brick building with a two-story front
section was constructed in 1932 as a War Department theater.
The name was changed to Post Theater in the late 1940s. The
front portion of the building displays a Neoclassical style that
leans more toward Roman than Greek. There were originally two
doors on either side of the front entrances that provided exterior
access to the restrooms. These doors were later removed and
glass block inserted in their place. As part of the pre-Olympic
renovation of this building, false doors replaced the glass block to
restore the building’s historic appearance.
Notice how the Heritage Center is framed by Buildings 610 & 611.
Bandstand: The original bandstand was a wooden structure built
in the late 1800s. Sometime around 1917, the original bandstand
burned down and was replaced with this one. In the ’20s and ’30s,
many area residents joined the military personnel to listen to band
concerts here every Thursday and Sunday evening during the
summer months. The concerts ceased when the 38th Infantry was
transferred to Texas in 1940. The University reconstructed the
bandstand in 2001 according to the original design documented in
historic photographs.
Buildings 606–615: These sandstone duplexes were built during
the 1874–1876 construction phase to house officers of the
Fourteenth Infantry and their families, hence the name of the
street, Officers Circle. Like the other buildings built at this time,
these were constructed using local sandstone from Red Butte
Canyon. Buildings 606 & 615 are slightly smaller than the others.
All were originally T-shaped with a two-story main block and a
one-story wing for the kitchen. In the 1880s, a second floor was
added to the rear wing using the same red sandstone. A one-story
red brick addition was added to the rear of each building in 1928.
In the 1930s, the wooden front porch decks were replaced with
concrete by WPA workers. The porch decks of Buildings 606 &
Neighborhood #4

17
615 are still supported by sandstone. The turned wood posts that
originally supported the porches were replaced with wrought iron
in the 1950s.
As part of the University’s restoration of these buildings, the wood
posts have been reconstructed. The Kennecott Copper
Corporation, in cooperation with the University of Utah, provided
funding for the renovation of Building 611. Now known as the
Kennecott House, it serves as university housing for student
scholars and other honor students. The University, through the
Fort Douglas Heritage Commons Campaign Program, has taken
on the task of renovating all the Officers Circle duplexes.
Lewis Street was named after Lieutenant Colonel William H.
Lewis who, as a major, was the commanding officer of Camp
Douglas from 1866 to 1869.
Building 649: Built to serve as Post Headquarters and band
barracks in 1875, this building has received many additions and
alterations. Prior to becoming the Officer’s Club during World
War II, this building housed various functions such as the Post
Office, the Library, and the Chaplain’s office. The stone tablet on
the east side of the building mentions the Watson Brothers. James
and Joseph Watson, building contractors that worked primarily in
stone, supervised the 1870s rebuilding phase; the Army supplied
the stone and labor. Over the years this building received many
unsympathetic additions and alterations. In 2001 the building’s
front facade was restored to its original appearance and a new
sympathetic addition replaced incompatible additions made to the
rear of the club over the years. The building is now a multi-use
conference center for the University of Utah.
Chapel Glen: This now dry streambed once contained a branch of
Red Butte Creek. In the 1880s, the creek was diverted and the
glen became the roadbed for the Salt Lake City Streetcar line that
connected the Post with downtown.
Neighborhood #5

18
Building 648: The Post Chapel was the first building to be
finished during the 1884–1886 building phase and was the longest
continuously operating military chapel in the United States Army
before it was closed in 1991. In addition to serving as a religious
building, the chapel also served as a school for officers’ children
and as the post library for a time. The first chapel at Fort Douglas
was a large tent brought from San Francisco by Chaplain John A.
Anderson, a Presbyterian minister who accompanied Connor’s
troops in 1862.
The much needed 2001 renovation returned the chapel’s interior to
its original configuration as a simple open space that permits
many types of religious services by replacing the large 1950s
worship platform with a smaller platform that can be made level
with the surrounding floor using a lift. The wood siding was
repaired and repainted in an historically appropriate color scheme
and the decorative trim was reconstructed using historic
photographs. The chapel now serves as a place of reflection and
worship for many denominations in the residential community at
the University of Utah.
Building 801: The University Guest House is used on a short-stay
basis by visiting faculty or others connected to the university. It
has various room sizes and types, four meeting rooms, two
conference rooms, and one reception room. It was set back from
the street, and as much green space as feasible was preserved
around the Chapel so that the Chapel could remain as dominant
and visible as possible in its original environment. Design details
reflect those of historic residential buildings at Fort Douglas while
not competing with the architectural elements of the Chapel. For
example, bright white trim is used rather than the off-white or
crème color of the Chapel, allowing the Chapel to maintain its
distinction.
The Guest House also blends well with the other historic buildings
in the area. The building footprint, height, and configuration were
developed to reduce scale and massing and be respectful of
surrounding historic buildings while satisfying programmatic
requirements. With the drop in grade from east to west, the roof
height of the Guest House is approximately equal to that of the
residences east of Fort Douglas Boulevard.
Building 601: The 1901 designation of Fort Douglas as
growth. Built in 1910, this duplex was constructed to serve as
housing for officers and their families.
Building 602: This duplex, similar to Buildings 616 & 617 in
Neighborhood #6, was built in 1884 to house officers and their
families. They were constructed using the same basic plan and the
same bargeboard trim as those on Officers Circle. However, these
are of frame construction. Each was originally T-shaped and two
stories. In 1928, a one-story addition was added to the rear of
each building. A newer mudroom flanks the dining room on each
side of these duplexes. In the 1930s, the wooden front porch
decks were replaced with concrete by WPA workers. The turned
wood posts that originally supported the porches were replaced
with wrought iron in the 1950s. Some of the original six-over-six
double-hung windows have been replaced. The original novelty
siding and the chamfered window trim were covered with
aluminum siding sometime between 1962 and 1980. However,
these can still be seen in the mudrooms. The original scrolled
bargeboards have also been covered with aluminum.
Building 603: This building, similar to Buildings 621–625 in
Neighborhood #1, was built in 1931 to house an officer and his
family as part of a nationwide Army building program initiated in
1927 to upgrade the living conditions of officers, non-
commissioned officers, and enlisted men. The building program
was implemented in the 1930s using funds from the Army, the
Works Progress Administration, and the Public Works

19
Administration. Designed by the Quartermaster General’s Office
in Washington, D.C., the standard plans could be modified
depending on regional style. At Fort Douglas, the Colonial
Revival style was chosen.
Building 604: This building, completed in 1876, was built to
reflect the status of its occupant and the functions it served. This
building not only housed the commanding officer and his family,
it was also used for the formal entertainment of local and visiting
dignitaries such as President Rutherford B. Hayes and his wife
who visited in September of 1880. The building’s amenities, size,
and style were more elaborate than any other building constructed
during the same period. For example, when it was constructed,
this building was the only one on the Post with indoor plumbing.
There were 2 toilets in the rear of the service wing, a bath upstairs
directly above the kitchen sink, and a water heater.
Minor repairs were made after the building caught fire on May 6,
1927. Extensive remodeling began the following year. The
building was converted into four apartments for officers and their
families; the front porch and lattice were replaced with concrete;
the service wing was expanded to two-stories; and a two-story sun
porch was added to both the north and the south of the building.
The sun porches hide the transition from the sandstone building to
the service wing. The railing and turned wood posts that
originally supported the porches were replaced with wrought iron
in the 1950s.
growth. This building was constructed in 1904 to serve as
Bachelor Officer’s Quarters housing 19 men. The interior was
changed to accommodate the Marine Corps Recruiting Service in
the 1960s.
Gibbon Street was named after Brevet Major General John
Gibbon who, as a colonel, was the commanding officer of Camp
Douglas from 1869 to 1870.
Buildings 616 & 617: These duplexes were built in 1884 to house
officers and their families. They are similar to Building 602 in
Neighborhood #5 and are often referred to as “the twins.” They
were constructed using the same basic plan and the same
bargeboard trim as those on Officers Circle. However, these are
of frame construction. Each was originally T-shaped and two
stories. In 1928, a one-story addition was added to the rear of
each building. A newer mudroom flanks the dining room on each
side of these duplexes. In the 1930s, the wooden front porch
decks were replaced with concrete by WPA workers. The turned
wood posts that originally supported the porches were replaced
with wrought iron in the 1950s. Some of the original six-over-six
double-hung windows have been replaced. The original novelty
siding and the chamfered window trim were covered with
aluminum siding sometime between 1962 and 1980. However,
these can still be seen in the mudrooms. The original scrolled
bargeboards have been covered with aluminum.
Neighborhood #6

20
Buildings 802–804: The Chapel Glen residence halls house first-
year students and upperclassmen in furnished single and double
occupancy rooms with semi-private baths in communities of 24–
28 students. Each floor has a study room, laundry room,
kitchenette, fitness room, workroom, and offices. Large living
rooms and community spaces are centrally located to provide a
comfortable living environment. The study spaces take advantage
of the prominent views of the mountains and the Heritage Center.
Each building has a stained-glass window that depicts a view or
the Wasatch Mountains and a season: winter, summer, and fall.
These windows were designed, fabricated, and donated by Anne
Racer.
Roof form, gables, and roof pitch reflect that of the clapboard
houses known as “the twins.” The sandstone color rusticated base
and off-white or crème horizontal siding allow the white of the
historic frame buildings to maintain their distinction. The
arrangement of the new buildings around “the twins” creates an
intimate cloistered neighborhood. The new buildings embrace the
lawn and mature trees surrounding “the twins.” Their entrances
focus on the green space reinforcing the area as its own
community.
Vollum Street was named after Edward Perry Vollum who was
the surgeon at Camp Douglas from 1870 to 1876. He wrote a
complete medical history of the Post while stationed here. Vollum
Street used to be the main street leading to the Post Hospital
(Neighborhood #7).
Connor Road was named after Brevet Major General Patrick
Edward Connor who, as a colonel, established Camp Douglas and
was the commanding officer from 1862 to 1863.
Regimental Headquarters resulted in the need for a larger Post
Hospital. This building, constructed in 1909, was acquired by the
University of Utah in 1948 and converted into a dorm called
Central Hall, accommodating 112 students. This building also
served as the International House later on. In 1979, as part of a
remodeling project, a two-story screened porch that wrapped
around the south half was removed. In 1988 this building became
home to the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and
Environmental Health.
Building 543: This unique building, constructed in 1918, was an
ambulance garage for the hospital prior to being acquired by the
University of Utah in 1948. The University has used it for storage
since acquisition.
Building 500: Built in 1939, this was a 35-man barrack and
medical office for the Army’s medical department prior to being
acquired by the University of Utah in 1948. All of its multiple
uses have been medical and research related. It now serves the
Neighborhood #7

21
Cardiovascular Research Technology Institute. The two additions
are connected to the building via a passage or “hyphen”
connection, preserving the architectural integrity of the building.
The first addition (to the south of the original building) was
constructed in 1983. The second addition (to the west of the first
addition) was constructed in 1993 and won a Utah AIA Design
Award in 1995 for its preservation minded approach.
Buildings 652 & 653: Building 652 was constructed in 1893, and
Building 653 in 1910, to serve as Hospital Steward’s Quarters.
Prior to 1935, they became Non-Commissioned Officer’s
Quarters. The wood siding of Building 652 was covered with
aluminum siding in the 1970s. Both of these buildings originally
had wooden porches supported by turned spindle-work posts and
balustrades. In the 1960s, the posts and balustrades were replaced
by wrought-iron supports and railings, and the wooden porch
decks were replaced with concrete. Building 653 was moved in
1999. In the process the rear lean-to addition, similar to the one
on Building 652, was removed and the porch was restored back to
its original appearance.
Building 653, originally located to the south of Building 652, was
moved to make room for the new Heritage Center; allow
appropriate open space around Building 655; and preserve both
historic buildings as an anchor on the north end of Connor Road.
This solution was reached through exhaustive studies with the
architects, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Graduate
School of Architecture, and other groups and representatives.
Because demolition was not acceptable to the University, Building
653 was moved in order to preserve the streetscape and context of
Connor Road. The historic buildings remain in their original
context with the backdrop of new construction, creating what has
been referred to as “a tapestry of complexity.”
Building 515: Built in 1902, this was a hospital storehouse for the
Army prior to being acquired by the University of Utah in 1948.
The University has used it as storage since acquisition.
Building 516: Built in 1876, this was a 4-body-capacity morgue
for the Army before being acquired by the University of Utah in
1948. The University has used it as storage since acquisition.
Notice the breezeway through Building 806, and how it offers a
vignette of the buildings on Officers Circle. If you are proceeding
on to Neighborhood #8 from here, go through the breezeway so
that you can get a better view of Gateway Heights.

22
of white accents seen throughout the Fort, and masonry colors
blend with the historic material. While the other new buildings
are three stories, Gateway Heights was held at two stories to
respect the scale of the nearby historic buildings.
Building 815: Standing on the cross axis of the major pedestrian
pathways of the University student village, the Chase N. Peterson
Heritage Center is located in the heart, programmatically and
geographically, of the new housing complex. It is the community
center for the 2400 residents living in the Fort Douglas student
village. The Heritage Center houses a 600-seat central dining
facility, a convenience store, 2 music practice rooms, 4
multipurpose rooms, fitness and game rooms, computer and
technology labs, and a mail center. Located on the former site of
the Non-Commissioned Officer’s Club, it is fitting that this
building provides some of the same recreation as its predecessor.
Although the age of the NCO Club allowed it to be eligible for the
National Register of Historic Places, the University, in
consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office,
determined the building had lost its historic integrity through
numerous additions and modifications to the original structure. In
order to provide adequate space for the Peterson Heritage Center
and preserve the more prominent historic structures along Connor
Road, the NCO Club was demolished in 1998. A remnant of that
building, a fanlight transom above the front door, is located inside
the Heritage Center on the stairway landing. Being the only
historically significant element remaining in the building, the
University salvaged the fanlight to commemorate the NCO Club
and its significance in the history of Fort Douglas.
Design of the Heritage Center is unique because its function is
unique. The architecture creates a community space that is easily
identified and accessible from any site within the area. The use of
glass in the dining area and central core creates a transparency that
identifies a connection and pathway through the neighborhood.
Buildings 806 & 807: The Gateway Heights residence halls house
the First-Year Focus Program, which is designed to help first-year
students better achieve their scholastic potential by establishing a
living/learning community of students who take one or more
classes in the residence halls for at least one semester. These also
provide seminar classroom space for the yearlong lectures and
seminars by faculty, visiting speakers, and alumni that are part of
the program. Each building has a community lounge with a
fireplace, study rooms, laundry room and kitchenette on each
floor, and double-room furnished suites that consist of four
students sharing a bathroom.
The breezeways keep these buildings from being visual barriers,
providing vignettes of the buildings on the other side. They also
act as an invitation to venture through and discover what lies on
the other side and around the corner, thus unifying the area rather
than dividing it. These two buildings also frame the entry to the
Heritage Center, and with it, create a public plaza for student
gatherings. The green spaces and the low sandstone sitting walls,
which were constructed of stone recovered during excavation, also
serve as informal gathering places for students. The architecture
of Gateway Heights reflects massing, materials and design
elements of the neighboring historic buildings while not
competing with them. Entries and fenestration incorporate the use
Neighborhood #8

23
The north and south wings have flat roofs, and the core element is
higher and pitched to further distinguish entry and passageway.
Nevertheless, it still blends well with the historic fabric. The color
of the brick masonry is subtle atop the rusticated base. Sandstone
recovered from excavation has been reincorporated into site
features and design accents. The copper roof echoes the copper
roofs found on a number of the porches of historic buildings.
Buildings 820–822: Benchmark Plaza apartments house single
students in two, three, and four bedroom units. Each apartment
has a living room, full kitchen, laundry facilities, and is fully
furnished. This complex offers an independent lifestyle for upper-
division students who desire apartment style living with the
benefits of living on campus. Community spaces within the
buildings include seminar rooms for group or individual study.
Students living here are at the central hub of campus life. The
Housing Administrative Offices are located in the southwest area
of the complex. Branches of the University Bookstore and the
University Copy Center are located in Building 820.
The white entries, trim around the windows, and rusticated base
reflect similar elements of historic buildings, but the brick
masonry is a deeper red, distinguishing these buildings from
others. These buildings are arranged around a common open
green area offering outdoor recreation and activity space. Site
planning and building placement was based on sun angles, natural
lighting, open space, view corridors, and pedestrian connections.
Buildings 825–830: Shoreline Ridge apartments house single and
married graduate students desiring or requiring a completely
independent living situation in two, three, and four bedroom units.
Each apartment has a living room, full kitchen, laundry hookups,
and is available fully furnished or unfurnished. Site planning and
building placement was based on sun angles, natural lighting,
open space, view corridors, and pedestrian connections.
Located on the former site of the University baseball field, these
apartments capture views of the Salt Lake Valley and Wasatch
Mountains. The buildings are situated on either side of the
primary circulation path that connects Stilwell Field, the Heritage
Center, and the foothills beyond. They are similar in height and
massing to the historic barracks on Soldiers Circle. Their design
reflects building and roof form, materials, colors, and details of
the historic buildings while taking some liberties due to the
somewhat remote location.

24
from the 1930s indicate that the porch was enclosed with wood
banisters and screens. The screens and banisters were replaced
with wrought iron in the 1950s. The one-story addition in the rear
of each building was constructed in 1939 and included a kitchen,
small half-bath, and utility area for each unit. At this time the
original kitchen became the dining room. These duplexes were
the only two wood-frame and stucco dwellings built at Fort
Douglas.
Buildings 658, 660, 664–666: Buildings 658, 660, 664, and 665
were built in 1930, Building 666 in 1933, as residences for the
senior non-commissioned officers assigned to the 38th Infantry
and their families. These duplexes were part of a nationwide
Army building program initiated in 1927 to upgrade the living
conditions of officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted
men. The building program was implemented in the 1930s using
funds from the Army, the Works Progress Administration, and the
Public Works Administration. Designed by the Quartermaster
General’s Office in Washington, D.C., the standard plans could be
modified depending on regional style. At Fort Douglas, the
Colonial Revival style was chosen. In 1961, a brick addition was
constructed in the rear and the kitchen was moved there. In 1973,
a small entry and half-bath were added.
growth. Built in 1917, this building was constructed to serve as
housing for non-commissioned officers and their families.
Building 650: This one-story stone building was built in 1936 for
use as the bathhouse for the swimming pool (651), which was
constructed in 1935. The swimming pool measured 150 feet by
64 feet. Building 650 was constructed by the United States Army
in cooperation with the Works Progress Administration. In 2001,
the bathhouse was renovated and the swimming pool was filled in.
This section of Connor Road was known as “NCO Row” because
it was lined with residences for non-commissioned officers.
Building 655: This white, stuccoed adobe building with frame
addition, built in 1863, is the oldest building at Fort Douglas and
the only surviving building from the “Establishment” period. It
was built to serve as the residence for the Post Commander.
However, it did not serve in this capacity for long. From about
1864 to 1876, the Post Quartermaster lived here. From about
1876 to 1930, this building served as Non-Commissioned
Officer’s Quarters. From 1930 to 1960 the post electrician, who
was a civilian, lived here. In 1960, Building 655 again came to
house non-commissioned officers. In 1980, it became office
space. The 1991 transfer agreement stipulated that it be used as
part of the Fort Douglas Military Museum. Great care was taken
with the design of the Heritage Center to allow Building 655 to
remain in its original context on Connor Road, to maintain its
historic prominence, and allow it to be a focal point in this
neighborhood.
Buildings 656 & 657: These two-story Colonial Revival style
duplexes were built in 1916 to house non-commissioned officers
and their families. Although it is unknown exactly how the front
porch and upper balcony originally appeared, maintenance records
Neighborhood #9

25
This decision was made because no funding was available for
needed repairs and to serve the needs of the Outdoor Recreation
Program, the current occupant of the bathhouse, and their clients.
The area south of the bathhouse was the ideal spot to provide
sports courts for students. It should be noted that the solution is
reversible. In other words, the swimming pool could be recovered
in the future.
Buildings 661–663: These three single family residences were
constructed in 1891 for the Quartermaster Sergeant (661),
Ordnance Sergeant (662), Commissary Sergeant (663), and their
families during a time when the Army was reducing the number of
posts across the country and consolidating the troops at larger
posts. In an effort to attract better-qualified men and encourage
re-enlistment, the Army began building separate residences for
non-commissioned officers and their families. Exterior treatment
originally included solid brackets around the porch and bay
window; novelty siding on the ground level; fish scale shingles on
the second story; simulated half-timbering in the front gable;
simple roof cresting; and a flower finial on the roof. The lean-to
addition in the back of each building was added circa 1910.
Building 661 originally had an open porch similar to the other
two. The wooden front porch bases were replaced with concrete
by WPA workers in the 1930s. In the 1950s, the turned wood
posts that originally supported the porches were replaced with
wrought iron and the distinctive Queen Anne details and patterned
wood siding were covered in asbestos siding. These buildings are
now covered with vinyl siding.
Historically, this area was the location of warehouses, storehouses,
garages, and shops for a variety of support functions such as
blacksmiths, carpenters, and painters. In the 1930s and 1940s,
there were also some quarters for non-commissioned officers
located here. This is where the Ordnance Sergeant, and
Commissary Sergeant, whose residences were located in
Neighborhood #9, spent their working hours. The Commissary
was located directly across the street from Buildings 661–663.
Building 645: This small brick building was built to serve as an
ordnance magazine. Military records for this building list a
construction date of 1885. However, all of the other buildings
constructed at that time were of either frame or stone construction.
It is quite possible that the original stone walls were replaced by
brick during the 1904–1910 building phase. The building now
serves as a storage building.
Buildings 810–814: The Sage Point residence halls house upper-
division students with 30 or more completed credit hours in
single-room and double-room suites as well as single-room and
double-room deluxe suites. The deluxe suites have a living room,
and each unit is furnished. Each floor has a kitchenette and
laundry room. Sage Point also houses computer and technology
labs, the International Area, the Living-Learning Center, and the
Neighborhood #10

26
Service-Learning Area. The Sage Point neighborhood has been
designed to meet the needs of students as they advance through
their academic career. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors desire
greater independence and a more self-sufficient life style. This
site offers a level of remoteness while still providing close access
to the shared facilities of the student village.
These buildings are similar in massing to the historic barracks on
Soldiers Circle. The thirty-foot drop in grade from the northeast
corner to the southwest corner of the site allows roof heights to be
near or equal to those of the residences along Connor Road. View
corridors to the Wasatch Mountains open from the center of the
site. These views were key elements to the setting and design of
each building. The preservation of the small brick and sandstone
buildings located along the central axis of the neighborhood and
the other buildings on the block such as the PX, Guardhouse,
Bakery, Bowling Alley, and the warehouses were also important
issues when designing the Sage Point buildings. Masonry colors
are muted, becoming a backdrop to the red brick Soldiers Circle
buildings and Connor Road houses. Extensive use of glass in the
community spaces identifies point-to-point connections along the
pedestrian paths. These spaces, in turn, serve as lanterns through
the neighborhood at night.
Buildings 643: This small stone structure, built in 1934 to serve
as an oil and paint warehouse, was the last stone building
constructed on the Post. Its construction differs from the other
stone buildings; it appears to have been built using the remains of
one or more other buildings. The stones in the walls appear to
have originally been cornerstones, and the cornerstones appear to
have originally been windowsills. It now serves as a storage
building.
Building 626: This building was constructed in 1910 to serve as a
quartermaster clothing warehouse. In 1939, the wooden porches
and loading platforms were replaced with concrete.
Building 627: This building was constructed in 1906 to serve as a
quartermaster warehouse and finance office. In 1939, the wooden
porches and loading platforms were replaced with concrete. The
following year, a two-story fireproof vault was added to the
exterior on the west side near the center. It was made of concrete
with a brick veneer.
Building 639: This red sandstone building was constructed in
1876 to serve as a quartermaster oil house. During the 1930s, it
was converted to a gas station. Later it served as restrooms for the
park.
Great care was taken in the programming, site planning, and
building design of the University’s student housing in order to
integrate new construction with the existing historic environment
of Fort Douglas. The next step in appropriate re-use of this
priceless, one-of-a-kind resource is the renovation of all the
historic buildings.
The University has initiated a fund-raising campaign for private
support to restore and renovate the historic buildings so essential
to the successful revitalization of Fort Douglas. These grand
homes and community buildings will serve as student housing,
common spaces, student support, and academic-related spaces in
this Living and Learning Community.
The University's student community, as part of the intricately
woven tapestry of old and new, incorporates, complements, and
revitalizes historic Fort Douglas. In this way, the University
continues in its commitment to utilize Fort Douglas to the very
best advantage of the historic buildings and environment, as such
an opportunity will not be available again.

27
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Additional copies of this walking tour can be obtained by
contacting Facilities Planning at (801) 585-6751 or via the Internet
at www.facilities.utah.edu/fd. The web site also includes a virtual
tour and supplemental information.
Select Sources
Arrington, Leonard J. and Thomas G. Alexander. “The U.S. Army
Overlooks Salt Lake Valley, Fort Douglas 1862–1965.”
Utah Historical Quarterly 33 (Fall 1965): 326–350.
Browning, Eric, Matt Thomas, and Tania Tully. “Overview of the
University of Utah’s Historic Buildings.” Historic Building
Files, Facilities Planning, University of Utah. Salt Lake
City, 1997.
“Detail Site & Building Use Plans.” The Fort Douglas Collection,
Manuscripts, Marriott Library, University of Utah. Salt
Lake City, Utah, 1946.
Fort Douglas, Utah: A Century of Service. U.S. Army, 1962.
Garner, John S. World War II Temporary Military Buildings: A
Brief History of the Architecture and Planning of
Cantonments and Training Stations in the United States.
(Tri-Services Cultural Resources Research Center: U.S.
Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories.)
Technical Report CRC-93/01. March 1993.
Hibbard, Charles G. Fort Douglas–Utah 1862–1991. Fort Collins,
Colorado: Vestige Press, 1999.
History of Fort Douglas, 22 Oct 1862–30 Sept 1954. Salt Lake
City, 1954.
Hoop, O. W. “Recollections of Fort Douglas at the Turn of the
Century.” Utah Historical Quarterly Vol. 21 (January
1953): 57–66.
Pedersen, Lyman Clarence, Jr. History of Fort Douglas, Utah.
Dissertation. Department of History. Brigham Young
University, May 1967.
Stock, Jody R., ed. Overlays of History: The Architecture of Fort
Douglas, Utah 1862–1995. Western Regional Architecture
Program, Graduate School of Architecture, University of
Utah, 1996.
Wessel, Richard. “Fort Douglas: Preserving Utah’s Bastion on the
Wasatch Front.” Utah Preservation 3 (1999): 16–18.
Student Papers
Copies of the student papers can be found at the Utah State
Historical Society’s Utah History Information Center.
“Building 4.” Architecture 559, Graduate School of Architecture,
University of Utah, 1994.
Black, Carla. “Military Women at Fort Douglas.” Architecture
581, Graduate School of Architecture, University of Utah,
1995.
Broschinsky, Korral and Susan Holt. “Fort Douglas—Building
18.” Architecture 559, Graduate School of Architecture,
Diehl, Adam. “Construction Techniques at Fort Douglas, 1862–

28
Fowles, Keri-Kathryn. “The Barracks of Fort Douglas: Synthesis
of Histories.” Architecture 581, Graduate School of
Architecture, University of Utah, 1995.
Hart, Polly. “Historic Archaeology at Fort Douglas.” Architecture
1995.
Hauri, Sharen. “Integration and the 24th Infantry Regiment 1886–
Hauri, Sharen and Carla Black. “Fort Douglas: Building 56.”
Architecture 559, Graduate School of Architecture,
Haws, Greg and Adam Diehl. “A History of Building 55 (7) and
its Inhabitants.” Architecture 559, Graduate School of
Holt, Arrin A. “Pondering the Picturesque: Fort Douglas and Salt
Lake City.” Architecture 581, Graduate School of
Holt, Susan. “The Remodeling of Buildings 18, 19, and 20 at Fort
Douglas.” Architecture 581, Graduate School of
Ivanov, Yana. “Fort Douglas: Second Half of the Nineteenth
Century Sanitation and the Army.” Architecture 581,
Graduate School of Architecture, University of Utah, 1995.
Julien, Liza C. “Fort Douglas: Architecture and Class in the
Military.” Architecture 581, Graduate School of
McKenna, Christine M. “Colonial Revival–An Architectural Style
for the Military.” Architecture 581, Graduate School of
McKenna, Christine, Arrin Holt, and Keri-Kathryn Fowles. “Fort
Douglas: Building 106.” Architecture 559, Graduate
School of Architecture, University of Utah, 1994.
Newbold, Russell H. “The Fort Douglas Noncommissioned
Officers’ Quarters: Symbols of Historical Change.”
Newbold, Russell and Robyn Power. “Fort Douglas: Building 63.”
Orlando, Michael. “Intensive Level History of Buildings 58, 60,
64, 65, & 66.” Architecture 559, Graduate School of
Pombo, Mark. “Building 16: Intensive Level Survey.” Graduate
Richter, Carrie. “The Golden Age of Fort Douglas.” Architecture
1995.
Richter, Carrie and Mary Troutman. “The Golden Age of Fort
Douglas and Building 23.” Architecture 559, Graduate
Slaugh, Ben and Yana Ivanov. “Fort Douglas: Building 32.”

29
Steensma, Kathryn. “Interior Architecture: A Comparative Study
at Fort Douglas.” Architecture 581, Graduate School of
Steensma, Kathryn and Elizabeth Warner. “Fort Douglas:
Buildings 52 and 53.” Architecture 559, Graduate School
of Architecture, University of Utah, 1994.
Stock, Jody R. “Boozing to Bowling: Recreation at Fort Douglas.”
Stock, Judy and Liza Julien. “Fort Douglas: Building 20.”
Taylor-Power, Robyn. “A Historic Context of Fort Douglas, Utah:
A Comparative Study of Camp Douglas and Fort Bridger
in the 1860s.” Architecture 581, Graduate School of
Troutman, Mary. “A Suit for Women in the Men’s Army: The
Fort Douglas Post Library During World War II.”
Turner, Stephanie. “Soap Suds Row: Laundress Quarters at Fort
Douglas, Utah.” Architecture 581, Graduate School of
Turner, Stephanie and Tanni Christman. “Best Built and Most
Credible: A Study of Officer’s Quarters Number Twelve,
Fort Douglas, Utah.” Architecture 559, Graduate School
of Architecture, University of Utah, 1992.
Wilde, Kris. “The Colonial Revival in Salt Lake City.”
Architecture 581, Graduate School of Arch., University of
Utah, 1995.
Organizations
American West Center Phone: (801) 581-7611
University of Utah Web Site: www.amwest.utah.edu
Facilities Planning Phone: (801) 585-6751
University of Utah Web Site: www.facilities.utah.edu
Fort Douglas Phone: (801) 581-1710
Military Museum Web Site: www.fortdouglas.org
Marriott Library Phone: (801) 581-8558
University of Utah Web Site: www.lib.utah.edu
Residential Living Phone: (801) 581-6611
University of Utah Web Site: www.orl.utah.edu
Save America’s Phone: (202) 588-6202
Treasures Web Site: www.saveamericastreasures.org
University Guest House Phone: (801) 587-1000
University of Utah Web Site: www.guesthouse.utah.edu
Utah Heritage Phone: (801) 533-0858
Foundation Web Site: www.utahheritagefoundation.com
Utah State Phone: (801) 533-3500
Historical Society Web Site: history.utah.gov
Graduate School of Architecture Phone: (801) 581-8254
University of Utah Web Site: www.arch.utah.edu

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